hiwin rails alignment

[markus_detroy]

like to get some feed back from users how the aligned the hiwin rails.
looking for ways to align my rails.

Did most people use some kind of sloted rail, then a micrometer dial then in
or did you just drill out the holes.. and dial in you rails as best you can?

[markus_detroy]

thanks for all the replies

[LeonM]

Okay, a belated reply for you!

I used a piano wire (about 1mm) tensioned as tightly as practical (makes a note when you pluck it) about 20mm away from the rail. I sat a carriage on the rail and mounted a plastic block to the carriage. I then mounted a razor blade on the plastic block so that the sharp edge was just touching the wire. I had a small circuit to buzz when the razor edge made electrical contact with the wire - you have to amplify the signal here with a transistor so that it buzzes with the slightest contact otherwise you will need too much pressure to get a reliable contact. I moved the rail back or forward until contact was just lost and then tightened the rail. I think that a micrometer and straightedge would have been the best but for 3000 mm rails it was hard to find an affordable straight edge. I am not sure of the accuracy but we are happy with the results.

[Eurisko]

LeonM,

Very clever idea. Could you post a drawing of your setup?

[LeonM]

The setup looks a bit rough but worked well. The wire really should be up higher next to the rail but I already had bolt holes to tighten the piano wire underneath the large blue lip. I wrapped the piano wire around some 8mm bolts and just turned them to tighten the wire then locked them in place. Note the round plastic bar is a spacer (one at each end) plus there is a small block of metal bar with a groove to clamp the wire so it cannot drift sideways.